Connect WinXP Pro and Fedora 5 via Firewire

[Guest]

Hi,

I have two system, whose configurations are as below:
1. GigaByte Motherboard(GA-K8N51GMF-9) which has an inbuilt Firewire port,
USB 2.0 port, GigaBit LAN running on AMD 3000+ processor, 1G RAM, WinXP,
connected to Internet over PPPoE
2. Intel 810 Chipset running on Intel 700 Mhz processor, 320 MB RAM, WinXP
and Fedora Core 5, USB 1.1, 10/100 LAN Card
Distance between both PC's 3 feet.

I would like to connect both the PC, but not sure whether the FireWire
network will work. Read that the Firewire networks over 2 WinXP system, but
will it also network over WinXP and Fedora?

Also will the system configuration be a cause of concern for networking as
one is a new age PC and the other a stone age one.

Should I go in for a FireWire network or a USB network? Planning to purchase
a Firewire Card with USB 2.0 for the 810 chipset, but will it actually work
out?

Please advice.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Callistus Mendonca

 

[Chuck]

Hi,

I have two system, whose configurations are as below:
1. GigaByte Motherboard(GA-K8N51GMF-9) which has an inbuilt Firewire port,
USB 2.0 port, GigaBit LAN running on AMD 3000+ processor, 1G RAM, WinXP,
connected to Internet over PPPoE
2. Intel 810 Chipset running on Intel 700 Mhz processor, 320 MB RAM, WinXP
and Fedora Core 5, USB 1.1, 10/100 LAN Card
Distance between both PC's 3 feet.

I would like to connect both the PC, but not sure whether the FireWire
network will work. Read that the Firewire networks over 2 WinXP system, but
will it also network over WinXP and Fedora?

Also will the system configuration be a cause of concern for networking as
one is a new age PC and the other a stone age one.

Should I go in for a FireWire network or a USB network? Planning to purchase
a Firewire Card with USB 2.0 for the 810 chipset, but will it actually work
out?

Please advice.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Callistus Mendonca

Callistus,

If Fedora will support the Firewire network as it will Ethernet, Windows XP will
network with Fedora as with any other computer. Windows Networking (which
shares files using SMBs) will work with any low level network device (Ethernet,
Firewire, USB), with the right drivers for that device.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/networking-your-computers.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/08/networking-your-computers.html

BUT.

If both computers have Ethernet, you would be better off networking by Ethernet.

Firewire and USB are Personal Area Network devices. They are used for
connecting keyboards, pointing devices (ala mice), portable storage devices, et
al.

Local Area Network devices, such as Ethernet controllers, connect computers.
They are specialised. Windows XP has Ethernet, and Ethernet networking, built
in to its network stack. Your Firewire / USB drivers are designed for PANs.
They may need additional drivers, if they are going to work in LANs.

Is there a reason why you aren't using Ethernet ("GigaBit LAN" / "10/100 LAN
Card") to connect the computers?

 

[Guest]

Hey Chuck,

Thanks for your response.

Actually I tried networking the two Systems via CAT 5e crossover Ethernet
cable, but the systems (both running WinXP) didn't seem to recognize the
other. Infact the Pentium III PC's networking drivers got corrupted. Anyways
fixed that up, by reinstalling the drivers. Both have DHCP enabled. As of now
I'm trying to atleast network both via WinXP, will use the same configuration
later via Fedora.

My main intent is to connect to the internet via my AMD system, by using the
ICS. It uses the Ethernet connection of the AMD system to connect to the
internet via PPPoE. Hence if I use the Ethernet connection for the Home
Network I will not be able to connect to the Internet for the same and will
have to switch between networks everytime I connect to the Internet. Hence
had decided to go for a FireWire network as the AMD system alread has a
Firewire port and network adapters installed and only PIII system will
require a new hardware. But was not sure if this network will really work out
(both via WinXP and Fedora)?

Was also wondering if I could use a second LAN card on my AMD system and
bridge the two LAN connection on the AMD system so as to use the Internet. Is
it possible to do so as both the LAN cards on the same system will have
different MAC address? Can WinXP support multiple MAC addresses or is there a
way around this.

Please advice.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Callistus Mendonca

 

[Chuck]

Hey Chuck,

Thanks for your response.

Actually I tried networking the two Systems via CAT 5e crossover Ethernet
cable, but the systems (both running WinXP) didn't seem to recognize the
other. Infact the Pentium III PC's networking drivers got corrupted. Anyways
fixed that up, by reinstalling the drivers. Both have DHCP enabled. As of now
I'm trying to atleast network both via WinXP, will use the same configuration
later via Fedora.

My main intent is to connect to the internet via my AMD system, by using the
ICS. It uses the Ethernet connection of the AMD system to connect to the
internet via PPPoE. Hence if I use the Ethernet connection for the Home
Network I will not be able to connect to the Internet for the same and will
have to switch between networks everytime I connect to the Internet. Hence
had decided to go for a FireWire network as the AMD system alread has a
Firewire port and network adapters installed and only PIII system will
require a new hardware. But was not sure if this network will really work out
(both via WinXP and Fedora)?

Was also wondering if I could use a second LAN card on my AMD system and
bridge the two LAN connection on the AMD system so as to use the Internet. Is
it possible to do so as both the LAN cards on the same system will have
different MAC address? Can WinXP support multiple MAC addresses or is there a
way around this.

Please advice.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Callistus Mendonca

Callistus,

One of the limitations of PPPoE (authentication required) based broadband is
that you only get a connection (IP address etc) for each that is paid for. Most
services allow one connection, and that's all that you get. And that's why we
use NAT routers - to take that one connection, and multiplex it to the multiple
computers on our networks.

So if you're paying for broadband, why not get a broadband capable NAT router,
and be done with this? A NAT router is so much a better solution for the setup
that you have.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/ics-is-ok-but-you-can-do-better.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/ics-is-ok-but-you-can-do-better.html

And yes, you can add a second LAN card on your ICS server, if you like, and
bridge the two. You can get a LAN card for $10 or thereabouts at any consumer
store (like Walmart even). Or you can get a cheap NAT router for $20 (if you
shop around), or a decent one for $50. What is the monthly cost for your
broadband?

And you can network the computers with Firewire. But you may need a Firewire
networking cable (with embedded hub), and Firewire networking drivers. If you
have a computer without Ethernet, why not buy an Ethernet card for that
computer?
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/01/proper-network-design.html#PAN>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/01/proper-network-design.html#PAN

The answer to each of your questions is "Yes, it is possible". But why waste
yourself?

There are cases where using ICS to share Internet service is necessary. And
there are cases where using Firewire or USB is a good solution. But in many
cases (and possibly yours), using Ethernet and a NAT router will be so much
easier for everybody.